CD Review - Philip Stevenson

http://www.pittnews.com/article/2010/01/28/stevenson-knocks-stars-out-fans-eyes

Stevenson knocks stars out of fan's eyes

Band: Philip Stevenson
Album: Starless
Grade: C-
Record label: Night World
Sounds like: A deeper-voiced Jesse Malin

It would be unfair to say an album called Starless is as dark and depressing as a night sky — it’s not quite that bleak.

But Philip Stevenson’s release is definitely not the brightest sky, either, so to speak.

The first track “Anatomy” opens with a smooth, soft rock feeling and an even softer voice. Stevenson is barely distinguishable, as he harmonizes with his guitar and loses his vocals among the chords.

In the next track, Stevenson follows a similar pattern before finally slowing down from a rock guitar to an acoustic melody. Titled “Fix Me,” there’s no savior in sight. Stevenson’s voice goes from harmonizing to gravelly.

It’s not the music that’s bad. In fact, if this review focused on the music, the album would be much better overall. It would be entirely comprised of a mixture of soft rock to hard rock, from acoustic to jazzy — an eclectic mix yet smooth and refreshing product.

The random 12-second jazz music intervals inserted between three tracks would sound fine. Bad track titles like “I’m A Boy” might even slide.

But with a voice that is hardly remarkable, very little supports Stevenson’s album beyond some pleasant chords.

Slow Club merges old and new

Slow Club merges old and new

http://www.pittnews.com/article/2010/01/27/slow-club-merges-old-and-new

Slow Club
Yeah, So
Moshi Moshi
Rocks Like: Tilly and the Wall, The Moldy Peaches
Grade: B+

Twelve songs, 12 relationships, one album. Slow Club’s worthy folk-rock album, Yeah, So, is composed of narratives about love and friendship.

Slow Club launches into its album with a slow opening — acoustic guitar and harmonizing vocals that bring to mind a modern-day, updated Simon and Garfunkel.

Updated, meaning that Slow Club is a male/female duo and folk-rock band, with band members Charles Watson and Rebecca Taylor embellishing the contemporary music with their own styles and sounds.

The band’s folk nature makes some tracks calming and soothing in style, while other songs are more saturated with drums. The vocals always support the song, rather than the music supporting the vocalists — this album’s about the lyrics, first and foremost.

Titles aren’t mystifying on this album. “Givin’ Up On Love” is exactly what it sounds like – why bother falling in love when so much has gone wrong? This particular song shows the duo’s rock roots, especially when compared to the quiet opening song, “When I Go,” which explores a friendship versus a marriage. “When I Go” demonstrates the band’s ability to alternate between rock and folk sounds.

On the other hand, “Apples and Pairs” displays more confidence from the couple. It’s not necessarily perfect, yet not quite as imperfect as other songs.. Its style is slow and charming, and sounds a bit like a carousal song.

Ultimately, the album avoids overcrowding, yet allows the music to feel full and complete — it generally satisfies the listener.

'Cats' in the 'Burgh

http://www.pittnews.com/article/2010/01/26/pittsburgh-plays-host-group-jellicle-cats

Pittsburgh plays host to a group of jellicle 'Cats'

“Cats”
Jan. 26-31
Benedum Center
$21 - $53
(412) 456-6666 or at pgharts.org
Pitt Arts Prices: $27.50 - $45.25. Purchase in the Pitt Arts office.

In the animal kingdom, cats are known for their sassy yet nonchalant demeanors. On stage, at least in their namesake musical, they’re known for bombastic love ballads, heavy makeup and spectacular dancing.

The award-winning musical “Cats” sprouted from a small hit-or-miss idea based on the poems in T.S. Eliot’s “Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats“. Its Broadway run lasted 15 years, and the musical has toured the country for 26 years.

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Cats” is a surreal show. The plot is not clearly defined, though it basically follows the misadventures of a group of stray felines and fills the stage with complex choreography taking place on a set made to look like a junkyard.

This year’s cast includes Point Park graduate Chris Mackenthun. He plays the role of a magical, young and frisky black-and-white cat named Mr. Mistoffelees. Though the behind-the-scenes work put into the show is grueling, Mackenthun described “Cats” as a fun production.

“It’s completely out of the box,” Mackenthun said. “Nobody knew what ‘Cats’ was going to be when it came on the scene. They went with it and said, ‘This is a magical show.’”

“Cats” also reaches audiences of all ages as a family-friendly show — it’s the show parents take their kids to see because they saw it and loved it, according to Mackenthun.

“There’s nothing risqué, there’s nothing questionable,” he said. “I think people have just fallen in love with the magic of the show because it is so crazy.”

Audiences are almost required to have the ability to go along with what is on stage, otherwise risking the inability to fully appreciate the show.

“I think kids are more willing to go with you on it — OK, you’re a cat, I can pretend that. And I also think adults are also willing to suspend the belief,” he said. “I guess if they aren’t willing, then we haven’t done our job.”

The rehearsal process combines singing with stepping correctly and following the choreography of the show, which is one of the most convincing aspects in a show being entirely about cats.

“The show is designed and choreographed and directed to make it, ‘What do you mean, you don’t think I’m a cat?’” he said.

“All movement shows you are a cat, and you are better than the audience,” he said. “It’s really magical when the audience does suspend all belief, sits back, and has a good time, because I know we feel that [on stage].”

“There’s this crazy set and quirky movement that just facilitates the illusion just that much more,” he said. “I think that most of the time the audience is willing to suspend belief and say, ‘OK. This is a group of cats.’”

Mackenthun graduated from Point Park in 2005 with a degree in ballet and a clear view of his career goals.

“I always knew I wanted to do musicals and musical theater, and I discovered I had a talent for dance,” he said. “So I decided I needed to give it a try because I could always do musical theater, but I couldn’t always be a principal dancer at 70 years old.”

Two years after graduating, he accidentally stumbled into the role of a magical black cat. He auditioned for two shows in one day and obtained a role in “Cats.” But it’s not an easy job.

All tours of “Cats” travel with a physical therapist to help take care of the dancers and their bodies. Injuries are common, according to Mackenthun.

“It’s live theater, so you never know what’s going to happen,” he said.”

The basic challenges of — performing properly after traveling, stage setup, transitioning to the new stage — are part of the job, although not always easy tasks.

Mackenthun expressed enthusiasm to be returning to Pittsburgh after five years.

“There’s so much theater in Pittsburgh,” he said. “It’s just growing, and I can’t wait to see what it’s growing into. Everybody just loves going to theater.”

New website is better for two

http://www.pittnews.com/article/2010/01/21/new-website-better-two

New website is better for two

Relationships. They can give singles headaches and frustrate couples. But for one Pitt alumna, they are inspiration for her new online publication, twodaymag.com.

Founded by editor Natalie Bencivenga and managing editor Joseph Vineis, twoday magazine is taking the step from a monthly webzine to a full-time website and operating magazine Jan. 18.

Bencivenga, a Pitt grad, described twoday magazine as a progressive publication that could affect changes in relationships of couples of all ages.

“Nothing [in other magazines] really fused ... questions about dating, about gay and straight dating,” Bencivenga said. “[These are] the questions that never get asked and never get answered in magazines ... I think we’re still very isolated even when we have a partner. This is a way to change it up a bit.”

The new site features material that couples can read together rather than separately, which sets it apart from the typical print style magazine. The publications will provide a guide for couples that can be updated daily.

The magazine targets people age 20 and older, according to Bencivenga. Otherwise, nothing limits its audience.

“This magazine ... deals with the greatest subject in the world — love,” Bencivenga said. “We can all relate! College students especially, because they are just finding their footing and what they want in life.”

Twodaymag, based in a New York office, launched its revamped website on Jan. 18. It now includes new articles about restaurants, places to go together, interactive articles, quizzes, contests to sign up to together and other information, according to Bencivenga.

On the magazine’s website, three major sections — Live, Love and Play — aim to make couples’ relationships more engaging and exciting.

“Live” focuses on current events and stories about real couples. The topics featured put a couple’s spin on topics seen on the front page of The New York Times. They include people caught in the debate over gay marriage, people in relationships in Iraq and even debate over the basic budgeted gift in the current economy.

“Love” explores a couple’s relationship status, offering tips such as how to deal with break-ups, being engaged and sex.
Play offers reviews and insights on things to do and places to go on any given night.

Bencivenga’s inspiration for the site came together slowly. She graduated from Pitt in 2006 with a double major in biology and philosophy and a minor in chemistry.

She was not committed to her original goal — a job in women’s health — but her reflections within her majors contributed positively to the content of twoday magazine.

“The great thing is, with my philosophy and science background, I had a great way of merging my right brain-left brain,” Bencivenga said. “It just expands your mind and makes you more open, which is great when looking for love and wanting to talk about it [such as in a magazine].”

While in New York, Bencivenga began editing Vineis’ proposal for a small magazine. The two eventually paired up to redo the entire magazine idea. Bencivenga eventually narrowed the redone and renamed magazine’s sections down to Live, Love, Play.

Bencivenga explained that this format allows for the interactive items that she has plans for, such as a comic called “Little Black Dress” about single girl’s dates. She believes everyone will find something to relate to on the website.

“I am on a journey and believe others can benefit from my mistakes and my victories in love,” Bencivenga said. “We all need that person in our lives that can give great advice from a place of experience. I am that person, and my goal is to enrich other people’s experiences in love.”

The magazine’s staff includes 10 staff writers and an advertisement department. Despite Bencivenga’s attachments to other print magazines, she accepts technology as the new thing and as a “greener process” than using paper and ink, and has no plans for the magazines to move into print.

“It just makes more sense,” Bencivenga said. “We have a Twitter, Facebook and MySpace. You can share articles on your own. You can print them. I think the future is definitely online, unfortunately for print.”

Twoday magazine is “an ever expanding, ever changing process,” according to Bencivenga.

“It’s all about bringing people and bringing them together,” Bencivenga said. “Hopefully we will build it [the magazine] up. We want a radio station, video, blogs. We want a lot. This [launch] is just the start-up to see the reaction.”

Bencivenga is confident in the direction this launch could take relationships.

“Love is the big mystery, right?” Bencivenga said. “Everyone deals with this on some level, so what better way to unite them then through this idea?”

The Black Girl Next Door, A Memoir

(Written for The Pitt News. Ran in the print version in January 2010, but was not posted online.)

The Black Girl Next Door: A Memoir

by Jennifer Baszile

Touchstone Books/Simon & Schuster Trade Paperback

Grade: B

Facing the idea of prejudice and racism is not a comfortable experience so much as a necessary one. Brave authors and their memoirs can recall these actions and often open doors and allow great insight into how to deal with this issue.

Author Jennifer Baszile opens another door with “The Black Girl Next Door” and her ability to write prose that looks into the past while being creative all at once.

As a young girl, Baszille grew up in a time after the Civil Rights movement – a time when laws were passed that stated equality while prejudices still fought the progression of human rights. The years between then and now are her focus.

Baszile lived in a California suburb. In 1975, she was in first grade. She opens her memoir with a defining moment in her childhood – how she beat one of her friends in a race, but was told it was OK she won because black people had something special in their feet.

Yet over the course of the memoir, Baszile does not focus solely on stereotypes and racism alone.

She easily switches between her private and public lives, merging the separated spheres in her memoir. She recounts being a good black student at a predominantly white school and at home not totally understanding for years the enormity of even being able to attend such a school.

Her writing is easy going yet tense – it allows time for emotions to brew and yet entrances.

The tale of her childhood and adolescence counters the idea in textbooks that the civil rights movement was the end of the battle. The author suggests that perhaps integration - being the black girl next door – had been as hard on her as segregation had been for her father.

Baszile reveals tensions without always coming out and saying them – for example, how her parents desperately wanted to be integrated in the white community but forbade the dating and close association with white men. She explains how her father could bounce back and forth between a calm and sweet father and a man that could potentially unwillingly injure others – results of the stress of the prejudice he faced in his business.

Dealing with paradoxes in life while also dealing with puberty, Baszile has to discover herself for herself, rather than for a sense of definition by her parents.

It’s fallacious to declare this book is completely about prejudice, the tension after the civil rights movement, or a girl becoming a woman. It weaves elements from all these factors together.

“What was my dream?” Baszile questions. Her parents had her dream – what was her own? Baszile ‘s journey to becoming a woman might be the start to an answer – something to which many demographics could easily relate.

George Carlin uses a memoir to give his "Last Words"

http://www.pittnews.com/article/2010/01/10/george-carlin-uses-memoir-give-his-last-words

George Carlin uses a memoir to give his "Last Words"

“Last Words”
George Carlin with Tony Hendra

Free Press
Grade: B-

The late George Carlin’s life story was bound to become a memoir. Carlin performed provocatively humorous acts, sparked controversy over Federal Communications Commission regulations and struggled to make a living and keep his life together.

Despite being most famous for swearing on stage as a comedian, such as in his “Seven Dirty Words” routine, George Carlin was also a social critic, actor and author. His recorded comedy albums, which humorously scrutinized society and politics, won a total of five Grammy Awards during his career.

After 50 years of performing comedy, Carlin died on June 22, 2008 because of heart failure. He was 71.
In his posthumously published memoir, “Last Words,” Carlin speaks in an uncensored narrative, yet his book has far fewer dirty words than his stand-ups feature.

Carlin’s longtime friend Tony Hendra, who interviewed Carlin over a number of years to help him document his rich and complex history, compiled “Last Words.”

“Last Words” is not a humorous story, though Carlin’s quirky sense of humor does occasionally arise, easing tension created as he reveals his personal life history. His memoir details a love-hate relationship with his mother, as well asan early love for language and comedy. Some aspects of his past are more startling than others, given his attitudes on stage were the blueprints of the persona most people knew.

As he dissects what he liked — or more often hated — in his early career, Carlin’s story reveals the unseen complications he endured. He also reveals his battle with heart and drug problems, as well as his relationship with his family.

An interesting part of the memoir is that Carlin never says he regrets. Instead, he writes fluently and honestly, never denying or defending himself. He tells his story, and makes it clear that his past led him to become the award-winning comedian whose shows are still featured on late-night HBO comedy programs quite often.

Carlin, who felt comedy held a fascinating power in society, was a renowned comedian who would inadvertently inspire others to find their funny voice. His comedy stirred up the crowds of listeners as often as it entertained them with provocative views and language.

Carlin’s book is not the story of a bad person turned good. It’s the honest tale of a person living his life, who followed his dreams and held to his personal morals and ideas. It’s honestly Carlin.

Review - Sherlock Holmes

http://www.pittnews.com/article/2010/01/05/sherlock-holmes-all-action-little-mystery

'Sherlock Holmes' full of action, devoid of mystery

photo credit: Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures

“Sherlock Holmes”
Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law, Rachel McAdams
Director: Guy Ritchie
Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures
Grade: C+

Fans of the mystery and crime genres all know part of the fun of diving into a new tale is picking up on the clues along with the main character, or maybe beating him to it.

The film “Sherlock Holmes” must have missed this memo. Despite being based heavily on the Sir Arthur Conan Doyle stories, following the famous fictional character of the same name, the film instead took the path away from mystery and focused more on the action.

The fictional face of Sherlock Holmes has been in the brains of fans since Doyle conjured him up more than 100 years ago. Holmes is a renowned character in fiction, with incredible deductive reasoning skills accompanied by a talent for acute observation and an eccentric personality.

At least the film got this right, with actor Robert Downey Jr. taking on the complex and sometimes flat-out ridiculous character of Holmes. At his side is Jude Law as Dr. John Watson.

On screen the two old partners must work together on what is to be their last case as a team. It involves suspected black magic and a dangerous, terrifying force which rises from the death of a corrupt lord intent on bringing about the subjugation of England, America and eventually the entire world.

The film portrays the incredible crime fighters as needing to use their fists and brains to fight their new enemies. At the same time both characters are supposed to be dealing with personal issues, such as Watson’s retirement. In addition to all that, both must deal with matters of love and lust.

It was a bold move, but it didn’t pay off.

Instead of allowing a strong plot baseline and character development, “Sherlock Holmes” carries on through the mystery swiftly and chaotically, with a strong score that pounds on the eardrums and explosions and deaths that are supposed to show off the power and danger the detectives are facing.

The mystery element of “Sherlock Holmes” is, in fact, almost completely lost among the chaos.

The settings and sets are more complete than the characters at times, with costumes and building designs setting the mood and scene perfectly.

By the end of the film, it’s revealed that Holmes himself had been mentally working through the case the entire time, but had in fact picked up most of his clues so early in the film that any audience member who may have wanted to solve the mystery themselves could hardly have done so in the short time span spent on the scene holding the key to the mystery.

Of course, the ending is predictable at best. The set-up for the villain, including his motive and crime, is mediocre. The mystery itself was hardly the most complicated of Holmes’ career and is supposedly connected to a larger crime, therefore setting the stage for a sequel, or perhaps an entire franchise.

Most offensive of all, the ending is an ending that should have been a beginning. The film literally stops as Holmes begins to suggest a larger plot than what he and Watson dealt with for more than two hours previously on the screen.

This new take on the character of Sherlock Holmes needs more work. Perhaps any sequel will be able to pick up the slack.

Ari Hest (older)

http://www.pittnews.com/article/2009/11/22/ari-hest-takes-inspiration-family-variety-talents

Ari Hest takes inspiration from family, variety of talents

photo credit: Courtesy Ari Hest

Ari Hest plays piano, guitar and teaches math.

Ari Hest
Thunderbird Café
Nov. 28, 8 p.m.
$14
412-682-0177

Press coverage has praised Ari Hest for setting himself apart in the musical field.

He has moved away from standard labels and created music that, according to the Washington Post, is a “melodic folk sound [that] bears hints of Bruce Springsteen.”

But even if Hest is aware of such praise, he might not accept such comments as praise at all.

“You can learn some things occasionally, but I don’t pay too much attention to critiques,” Hest said. “There’s no way I’m going to please everybody. If I get caught up in that, it’ll be dark situation. I rely on my own ear.”

The singer has recorded 11 albums and EP releases, all influenced by his upbringing.

He studied piano growing up, taught himself to play his mother’s guitar and listened to many of his favorite artists’ records, including The Beatles, Smashing Pumpkins and The Police.

“Music is in the family,” Hest said. “They never pushed music on me, but I knew I could sing from the time I was a little kid. I liked playing guitar. When I was in high school, it was a nice outlet. It became a bigger part of my life when I got to college. I started to write songs, and little by little, it became a bigger deal to me.”

Hest also played baseball throughout high school. But in college, he said, he knew he didn’t have the talent to continue professionally.

“I didn’t really like academics, but I wanted to get through school,” he said. “After a while, [guitar] seemed like a better idea. At that point, I was playing at fraternity parties in college and getting my feet wet. I didn’t fully grasp things when I started to play, but I had very supportive friends [and family].”

Music not only became his priority, but it showed itself as his gift. Hest doesn’t have much trouble with songwriting.

“I have a head for it, and I’m lucky,” he said.

From his meager college beginnings, Hest began releasing his recorded albums.

His songs were a composition of lyrics inspired by his life and music he often hummed and thought out to himself rather than wrote out on paper.

“I didn’t put too much thought into production on the first album,” Hest said. “It was more my getting used to things. I didn’t know what made an album ... I tend to go from folk to rock to something else without hesitation. That’s the way I write. I don’t like to fit into one category.”

But the act of recording seems to be Hest’s major challenge.

“Recording feels pretty unnatural,” Hest said. “It’s hard to get to a natural place when you’re doing takes.”
Hest has also dealt with rocky times and felt insecure about his music career, he said. He might find an alternative to music, if he ever felt the need.

“I dabbled with teaching — not teaching music,” he said. “I kind of like numbers. I have taught math a couple of times for substitutes over the last two years just to see if it was something I would be interested in. I like it, but not at much as what I do now.”

For now, Hest said nothing is definite with him other than being happy where he is.

“I don’t have a plan for the future,” he said. “Last year, I did this one song a week thing. I wrote a new song and released it on my website ... This year, I’m wanting the pressure off and going more with the flow. I’m trying to do more shows out of the country. But I love what I do. I don’t feel pressure to be famous. I’d love more people to know my music, but I’m happy with the way things are.

“The thing I like the best is coming up with the song I like and feeling good about creating something,” he said. “That’s what I’m trying to accomplish.”

Check out Hest's Myspace page here.